Hockey: Positional Play

- Striking the ball at right angles off of the right foot - Useful when changing the point of the attack - Allows the strike to be gotten off quicker - Dribble towards a cone, performing a hit off the right foot once the player has moved past it - Focus should be on weight transfer to the right foot

- Utilising the standard hit - Hands together at the top of the grip - Player should stroke through the ball - Push the ball outside of the left foot - Step into the ball, transferring weight the the left foot which should approximately be in line with the ball

The feeders on the half way line pass to the players higher up the field on the wings. The wing players must cut inside and then out to receive the pass. The wing player then runs up the pitch before passing to the central player who has to run to one side of the circle or the other before shooting.

Set up with two teams, each team having their own area in which they keep possession by passing the ball around. The other team can send one player across to try and win the ball for their side. If they manage to win possession the roles reverse and the other team passes the ball inside their own area. The winning team is the first team to put 10 passes together without losing the ball.

5 Players with one ball have to pass with only 2 touches on the ball each time, to each other in any direction whilst moving up the pitch. IMPORTANT to keep shape and not too many touches. Try and run as a team from one 25 to the other without making a mistake. With every mistake, the team should run back to the 25 and start again.

4 Players have to pass the ball around the outside of a square of cones in any direction. After a few minutes remove the cones. The players have to now continue passing around, keeping the same distance to each other as if the cones were still there. IMPORTANT: If one player misses the ball all players have to run to where the ball has gone and continue passing, remaining the same distance apart as before.

Technical Emphasis 1) Side on position when receiving from behind so that both you and the passer can see where the defender is, and make appropriate decisions based on this. 2) Sudden move to receive. 3) Receive the pass in front of the body to see the next pass forwards. 4) Arrive at the place you want the ball as the ball arrives. If you are waiting for the ball to arrive a defender will be able to recover. 5) Carry the ball out in front to see passes. 6) Keep constant contact with the ball when carrying it to enable the pass to be delivered quickly. Practices- Defender 1 dribbles at pace. - Defender 2 leads out. - Defender 3 gets free lead to receive from defender 2's cross. - Defender 3 shoots. - All players move round one spot.

Technical Emphasis 1) Side on position when receiving from behind so that both you and the passer can see where the defender is, and make appropriate decisions based on this. 2) Sudden move to receive. 3) Receive the pass in front of the body to see the next pass forwards. 4) Arrive at the place you want the ball as the ball arrives. If you are waiting for the ball to arrive a defender will be able to recover. 5) Carry the ball out in front to see passes. 6) Keep constant contact with the ball when carrying it to enable the pass to be delivered quickly. Practices - Defender 1 dribbles at pace. - Defender 2 leads out. - Defender 3 gets free lead to receive from defender 2's cross. - Defender 3 shoots. - All players move round one spot.

Passing the ball between the cones. player 2 receives the ball on his / her open stick side. It is important to use correct footwork.

Set out 6 cones in grid 10 by 10 metres The practice is to run with the ball to the 1st cone were the player lifts up the ball into space over a pretend stick (you could put a stick on the floor) Then the player should regain control of the ball move their feet round and pass the ball across to the other side.

Players move as shown in the diagram. Player at the front of the queue passes to the player on the wing who is moving from side to side waiting for the pass. They then run up the line and then cut back and pass to the player waiting in the circle who then shoots at goal. Players involved then move round and play starts again.

Performing an upright reverse stick pass on the move A good way to disguise a pass from left to right

Players pass the ball around the circle. One touch. Stay in your position. Fun warm up game

Players pass and follow the ball to any other player in the circle.

A simple pass and follow is to put out some cones at random on the pitch. Have a player without a ball by each cone and the rest of the players at the start with a ball. A player passes the ball and follows it to the first cone where that pass went. The player waiting at the first cone receives the ball, passes it to the 2nd cone and so on. The player by the last cone, on receiving a ball has to run with the ball, to the queue at the start.

A good warm-up before the game is to start with some players with balls outside the 23m area. Put some other players 5-10m apart 3 down each side. A player starts the pass and follow chain with the last player to receive the ball having a shot, and returning to the start.

This exercise is to practise the right wing cross. A player with the ball runs into the area of cones and hits the ball across to the player at the front of the queue. This player receives and runs into the next area and crosses the ball. After the cross the player runs to the back of teh other queue. Can be done with 2-4 balls at the same time.

Players pass and follow the ball each time to the next cone. It is important to follow the following progressions: 1 - run and follow 2 - run/pass and follow 3 - pass and follow.

It is possible to set up any pattern of play and practice it with the pass and follow exercise. This one is just one example of a switch from left to right to create a goal chance.